Draft-gear.



H. C. PRIEBE.

DRAFT GEAR. APPLICATION FILED APR,1. 1916.

ll. QQ8ALQQQ Patented Nov 2'7, 191?,

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

H. C. PRIEBE.

DRAFT GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1. I916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Patented Nova 2? HERMAN raters, or BLUE ISEANID, manners.

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specification or Letters Patent. Y

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Application filed April 1, 1916. Serial Ito. 88,300.

. To all whom it mat panacea.

vBe it known that l, HERMAN C. PRIEBE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Blue Island, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in Draft- Uears, of which the following is a full, clear,

concise, and exagt description, reference bewhich I employ to keep the followers in alinement desirably also act directly upon the springs further to guard against the distortion or buckling thereof.

Furthermore, my invention contemplates the provision of a draft gear embodying spaced center sills and bars engaged throu h said sills for bodily movement longitu inally of the latter, together with a spring mechanism between the sills, cooperating with the bars, and a pair of followers on the outer side of each sill connected respectively to the bars, which followers have lnterposed therebetween spring mechanism and alining A means.

My invention is of particular service where followers are employed upon the exterior of center sills since the standard or usual form of coupler equipment is generally sutlicient to maintain the followers that are disposed between the center sills in alinement. However, I preferably also provide the followers between the center sills with mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention so that in the event of the breakage of coupler yokes or the location of the sides of such yokes in horizontal planes, the followersbetween the center sills will be maintained in alinement and the buckling of the springs therebetween will be guarded against.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment thereof and inwhich Figure 1 is a plan view, partially in section, showing one form of draft gear constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a View on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view on line 4 4: of Fig. 1 with a slight modification added; and Fig. 5 is'a perspective view showing one form of follower.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the difierent figures.

In the form of the invention illustrated there is employed a coupler whose stem 1 has attached thereto a coupler yoke 2. The coupler butt 3 engages the outer follower 4 and the inner end of the coupler yoke engages the inner follower 5. The followers 4 and 5 are provided on their opposing faces with tubular extensions 6 and 7 which project toward each other. The motion resisting springs 8 and 9 surround the tubular extensions 6 and 7 A core 10 has sliding fit within both of the tubular extensions 6 and 7 to maintain these extensions in alinement whereby such extensions may act upon the springs (especially the inner spring 8) to keep them in similar ,alinement so that the axis of the springs is maintained substantially co-incident with the axisof the tubular extensions and which axis is substantially in the line of draft. The followers are thus provided with interengaging formations, it being considered that the core 10 is carried b either follower for the purpose of engaging the other follower. The core 10, which is preferably a floating core as described, is desirably of such a length that it will have simultaneous engagement with both followers when the springs have been compressed to the limit designed for them whereby the original set of the springs is substantially preserved.

While I prefer to employ tubular extensions and to provide a core in sliding lit with the bores of these extensions, yet, as will later appear, the function of the core may be performed by a tube that receives opposin follower extensions.

The raft gear structure thus far described is interposed between the center sills 11. Where such draft gear is supple: mented by motion resistingispring mechanism upon the exterior of the center or draft sills, motion to such exterior spring mechanism may be conveyed by continua;

14, 15 that also serve as seats for the springs V 16, 17 interposed therebetween, these follower blocks being maintained in assembly with the keys by means of cotter pins 14 15 The followers 14 and 15 are provided on their opposing faces with tubular extensions 18, 19 which project toward each other. The motion resisting springs 16 and 17 surround the tubular extensions 18 and 19. A core 20 has sliding fit within the bore of at least one and preferably both of the tubular extensions 18 and 19 to maintain these extensions and the followers having them in alinement whereby such extensions may act upon the springs (especially the inner spring 16) to keep them in similar alinement, so that the axiS of the springs is maintained substantially coincident with the axis of the tubular extensions and which axis is substantially parallel with the line of draft. The outer ends of the follower portions 12-14 and 13'15, are thus provided with interengaging formations that maintain the desired alinement of the outer ends of the followers, the cores 20 being adapted to have simultaneous engagement with the follower elements 12 and 13 when the springs 16, 17 have been compressed to the limit designed for them whereby the original set of the springs is substantially preserved. The opposing follower extensions 18, 19 desirably overlap for the purpose of affording extended engagement with neaaaoo the. inner springs 16 and for the purpose of preventing the floating cores from bending. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 the tubular extensions 18 and 19 are also received within and have sliding engagement with the tubular sleeve 21 which performs functions similar to the floating cores 20.

It will be observed that l have provided the opposing faces of the followers with formations which are in telescoping engagement, and while I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention 1 do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown aschanges may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following 1. A draft gear including a pair of followers, transverse bars midably connected with said followers respectively, additional pairs of followers rigidly connected to said bars respectively, and a spring mechanism and alining means interposed between each pair of followers.

2. In a draft gear, the combination of spaced center sills, bars slidably engaged with the sills for bodily movement longitudinally thereof, a spring mechanism between the sills and cooperating with the bars, a pair of followers on the outer side of each sill secured respectively to each bar, and a spring mechanism and alining means interposed between each pair of followers.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of March A. 1)., 1916.

HERMAN o. PRiEBE.

Witnesses:

G. L. CRAGG, ETTA L. l/VHITE. 

